diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__package_pip/gencode-remote b/cdist/conf/type/__package_pip/gencode-remote
index ec1c89f8..ba44927a 100644
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__package_pip/gencode-remote
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__package_pip/gencode-remote
@@ -22,11 +22,7 @@
 #
 
 state_is=$(cat "$__object/explorer/state")
-if [ -f "$__object/parameter/state" ]; then
-   state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
-else
-   state_should="present"
-fi
+state_should="$(cat "$__object/parameter/state")"
 
 [ "$state_is" = "$state_should" ] && exit 0
 
diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__package_pip/parameter/default/state b/cdist/conf/type/__package_pip/parameter/default/state
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e7f6134f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__package_pip/parameter/default/state
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+present